Article accommodation case

ABSTRACT

The present invention addresses the problem of providing an article accommodation case that can be formed at low costs, is excellent in connecting workability, and secures high stability in a stacked state. In order to solve the above problem, an article accommodation case having an opening at an upper part thereof and having a substantially cubic shape or a substantially rectangular shape is provided, wherein a convex part serving as a leg part is formed on a bottom-wall lower surface thereof, the convex part being configured to fit into the upper opening of a case below the case when the cases are stacked; inwardly or outwardly protruding upper tongue pieces are formed in a vicinity of upper-end centers of mutually facing side walls thereof; and lower tongue pieces protruding in directions opposite to directions, in which the upper tongue pieces protrude, are formed on the bottom-wall lower surface, the lower tongue pieces engaging the upper tongue pieces of the lower case when the cases are stacked to connect the cases to each other.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to article accommodation cases and relatesspecifically to article accommodation cases that can be easily connectedto each other when stacked.

BACKGROUND ART

In factories or the like, substantially cubic or substantiallyrectangular article accommodation cases each having an opening at itsupper part and molded by plastic or the like have been frequently usedto store and convey components.

Further, such an article accommodation case is configured to have aconvex part serving as a leg part on its bottom-wall lower surface andmake the convex part fit into the upper opening of a case below the casewhen the cases are stacked to prevent a deviation when the cases arestacked and increase stability in a stacked state (for example, PTL 1and2). Further, article accommodation cases each having a configurationthat connects stacked cases to each other have been developed to securefurther stability in a stacked state (for example, PTL 3).

CITATION LIST Patent Literature [PTL 1] Japanese Patent ApplicationLaid-open No. 2004-123221 [PTL 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-openNo. 2004-329035 SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

However, only the fitting of a convex part into an opening as disclosedin PTL 1 and 2 easily causes load collapse since the fitting easilydisengages and stacked cases deviate from each other when an upwardlythrusting impact is applied to the cases during conveyance by a truck orthe like. Further, when lifting stacked cases, it is necessary to grip alowermost case to lift the stacked cases even if the stacked cases areempty. Therefore, an operator is forced to bear burdens since he/she isrequired to perform an operation with a stoop.

Meanwhile, a configuration as disclosed in PTL 3 that connects stackedcases to each other does not cause the above problems. However,according to a connecting structure disclosed in PTL 3, steel connectingtools are rotatably attached at the upper opening edges of a case, andthe connecting tools are rotated to engage the upper edge and/or theconnecting tools of a counterpart case. Therefore, a connectingoperation by the connecting tools is required and burdensome. Inaddition, the structure is complex and costly since the connecting meansis large in size.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problemsresiding in the background art and has an object of providing an articleaccommodation case that can be formed at low cost, is excellent inconnecting workability, and secures high stability in a stacked state.

Solution to Problem

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides anarticle accommodation case described in the following items [1] to [6].

[1] An article accommodation case having an opening at an upper partthereof and having a substantially cubic shape or a substantiallyrectangular shape, wherein a convex part serving as a leg part is formedon a bottom-wall lower surface thereof, the convex part being configuredto fit into the upper opening of a case below the case when the casesare stacked; inwardly or outwardly protruding upper tongue pieces areformed in a vicinity of upper-end centers of mutually facing side wallsthereof; and lower tongue pieces protruding in directions opposite todirections, in which the upper tongue pieces protrude, are formed on thebottom-wall lower surface, the lower tongue pieces engaging the uppertongue pieces of the lower case when the cases are stacked to connectthe cases to each other.

[2] The article accommodation case described in the above item [1],wherein concave parts are formed around the upper tongue pieces.

[3] The article accommodation case described in the above item [1],wherein the upper tongue pieces are formed to protrude from upper-endsurfaces of the side walls.

[4] The article accommodation case described in the above item [1],wherein the upper tongue pieces have on lower surfaces thereofengagement concave parts respectively, and the lower tongue pieces haveon upper surfaces thereof engagement convex parts respectively, theengagement convex parts fitting into the engagement concave parts of theupper tongue pieces.

[5] The article accommodation case described in the above item [1],wherein the upper tongue pieces are formed on the mutually facing sidewalls on a long side respectively, and the lower tongue pieces areformed on the convex part serving as the leg part on the bottom-walllower surface.

[6] The article accommodation case described in the above item [1],wherein a rectangular lid body that closes the upper opening of the caseis provided, the lid body has on a lower surface thereof a convex part,the convex part is configured to fit into the upper opening of the case,and the convex part has tongue pieces that engage the upper tonguepieces formed on the case.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

In the article accommodation case according to the present invention,the addition of special separate components to connect cases to eachother is not required, and the upper tongue pieces and the lower tonguepieces are only required to be integrally formed on the case by moldingor the like. Therefore, the article accommodation case that reducesmanufacturing costs and is easily recycled can be provided.

Further, in the article accommodation case according to the presentinvention, the stacked cases are connected to each other by theengagement between the upper tongue pieces and the lower tongue pieces.Therefore, the article accommodation case is excellent in connectingworkability and makes it possible to perform connection with highreliability.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of an articleaccommodation case according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway side view showing a state in which thearticle accommodation cases shown in FIG. 1 are being stacked.

FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway side view showing a state in which thearticle accommodation cases shown in FIG. 1 are stacked in two stages.

FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway side view showing a state in which thearticle accommodation cases shown in FIG. 1 are stacked in three stagesand lifted in a vertical direction with an uppermost articleaccommodation case gripped, FIG. 4 being also a cross-sectional viewshowing an essential part in an enlarged manner.

FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway side view showing a state in which thearticle accommodation cases shown in FIG. 1 are stacked in three stagesand laid down in a horizontal direction with a lowermost articleaccommodation case gripped, FIG. 5 being also a cross-sectional viewshowing an essential part in an enlarged manner.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the lid body of the articleaccommodation case according to the present invention when seen from itslower side.

FIG. 7 is a partially cutaway side view showing a state in which thearticle accommodation cases shown in FIG. 1 are stacked in five stagesand the lid body is attached to an uppermost article accommodation case,FIG. 7 being also a cross-sectional view showing an essential part in anenlarged manner.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the articleaccommodation case according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the article accommodation case shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the article accommodation case shown in FIG.8.

FIG. 11 is an essential-part perspective view showing a modified exampleof an upper tongue piece and a lower tongue piece.

FIG. 12 is an essential-part perspective view showing another modifiedexample of the upper tongue piece and the lower tongue piece.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, a description will be given, with reference to thedrawings, in detail of embodiments of the article accommodation caseaccording to the present invention.

An article accommodation case 1 according to the present invention isintegrally molded by, for example, plastic in its entirety. As shown inFIG. 1, the article accommodation case I has a substantially rectangularshape and has an opening 2 at its upper part. Further, the articleaccommodation case 1 has a convex part 3 serving as a leg part on itsbottom-wall lower surface. The convex part. 3 fits into the upperopening 2 of a case below the case when the cases are stacked to securestability in a stacked state.

The article accommodation case 1 has inwardly-protruding upper tonguepieces 5 in the vicinity of the upper-end centers of facing side walls 4on its long side and has concave parts 6 around the upper tongue pieces5. Further, the convex part 3 formed on the bottom-wall lower surfaceand serving as the leg part has outwardly-protruding lower tongue pieces7 that engage the upper tongue pieces 5 when the cases are stacked toconnect the cases to each other. Further, the article accommodation case1 has grips 9 in the vicinity of uppercenters on the outer surface sidesof facing side walls 8 on its short side.

When the article accommodation cases 1 according to the presentinvention configured as described above are stacked, the lower tonguepieces 7 are inserted through the concave parts 6 formed around theupper tongue pieces 5 so that the lower tongue pieces 7 of an upper case1B are placed under the upper tongue pieces 5 of a lower case 1A asshown in FIG. 2. Thus, as shown in FIG. 3, the article accommodationcases 1 are so stacked that the lower tongue pieces 7 of the upper case1B are positioned under the upper tongue pieces 5 of the lower case 1A,and the stacked cases 1A and 1B can be connected to each other so as tobe prevented from coming off in a vertical direction.

In the case of, for example, lifting article accommodation cases 1A, 1B,and 1C stacked as described above, all the stacked article accommodationcases 1A, 1B, and 1C can be lifted when the uppermost articleaccommodation case 1C is gripped and lifted as shown in FIG. 4. Further,as shown in FIG. 5, even when the stacked article accommodation cases1A, 1B, and 1C are laid down in a horizontal direction with theuppermost case 1A gripped, the upper tongue pieces 5 and the lowertongue pieces 7 come in contact with each other with their lower endsserving as fulcrums to prevent the article accommodation cases 1A, 1B,and 1C from coming off. Therefore, it is possible to convey the articleaccommodation cases 1A, 1B, and 1C without spreading out their stackedstate even when the article accommodation cases 1A, 1B, and 1C are laiddown in the horizontal direction.

The above functions are particularly effectively performed in theconveyance operation of the article accommodation case 1 in an emptystate and can greatly reduce burdens on an operator.

Further, even when an upwardly thrusting impact is applied to thearticle accommodation cases 1A, 1B, and 1C stacked as described aboveduring conveyance by a truck or the like, the upper tongue pieces 5 andthe lower tongue pieces 7 come in contact with each other to prevent thearticle accommodation cases 1A, 1B, and 1C from coming off. Therefore,the article accommodation cases 1A, 1B, and 1C hardly deviate from eachother.

The above function can effectively prevent load collapse during theconveyance of the stacked article accommodation cases 1A, 1B, and 1C.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a lid body used in the articleaccommodation case according to the present invention when seen from itslower side. A lid body 50 has a rectangular shape integrally molded by,for example, plastic in its entirety. The lid body 50 has a convex part51 on its lower surface and s configured to make the convex part 51 fitinto the upper opening 2 of the case 1. Further, the convex part 51 hasoutwardly-protruding tongue pieces 52 that engage the upper tonguepieces 5 provided at the side-wall upper ends of the case 1.

As shown in, for example, FIG. 7, the lid body 50 is used to close anopening 2 of an uppermost case IF among article accommodation cases 1A,1B, 1C, 1D, and 1E stacked in five stages according to the presentinvention. In the attachment of the lid body 50, like the connectionbetween the cases described above, the tongue pieces 52 of the lid body50 are inserted through the concave parts 6 formed around the uppertongue pieces 5 so that the tongue pieces 52 are placed under the uppertongue pieces 5 of the case 1E. Thus, as shown in FIG. 7, the lid body50 is so attached that the tongue pieces 52 of the lid body 50 arepositioned under the upper tongue pieces 5 of the case 1E, and can beattached so as not to easily deviate from the case 1E.

Even when an upwardly thrusting impact is applied to the stacked articleaccommodation cases 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, and 1E during conveyance by a truckor the like in which the opening 2 of the uppermost case 1E is closed bythe lid body 50 as described above, load collapse is prevented due tothe connection between the cases as described above. In addition,accommodated articles are prevented from popping up and scattering sincethe lid body 50 does not disengage from the case 1.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the articleaccommodation case according to the present invention.

A case 10 is formed of thin plastic in its entirety and has flanges 11and ribs 12 at its appropriate places to secure its rigidity. The case10 has upper tongue pieces 14 in the vicinity of the upper-end centersof facing side walls 13 on its long side in which the upper tonguepieces 14 are formed to protrude from the upper-end surfaces of the sidewalls, and has concave parts 15 around the upper tongue pieces 14. Thus,the thickness of the upper tongue pieces 14 is secured, and theinsertion of lower tongue pieces 16 that will be described later isfacilitated.

Further, as shown in FIG. 10, the case 10 has convex parts 17 serving asleg parts on its bottom-wall lower surface. The convex parts 17 areformed linearly and have L-shaped convex parts 17 a formed at cornersand I-shaped convex parts 17 b formed in the vicinity of a center on thelong side. The convex parts 17 a and 17 b internally fit into an upperopening 18 of a lower case when the cases are stacked to securestability in a stacked state.

The I-shaped convex parts 17 b have outwardly-protruding lower tonguepieces 16 that engage the upper tongue pieces 14 when the cases arestacked to connect the cases to each other. Further, as shown in FIG. 8,the lower flanges 11 have concaves 19 used to turn aside the uppertongue pieces 14 formed to protrude from the upper-end surfaces of theside walls.

The article accommodation case 10 according to the embodiment alsoproduces the same functions and effects as those of the case 1.

The embodiments of the article accommodation case according to thepresent invention are described above. However, the present invention isnot limited to the above embodiments, and further various deformationsand modifications are made possible as a matter of course within thescope of the technological thoughts of the present invention describedin the claims.

For example, the embodiments describe the article accommodation cases 1and 10 having a substantially rectangular shape. However, an articleaccommodation case having a substantially cubic shape may be provided.Further, the upper tongue pieces 5 or 14 and the lower tongue pieces 7or 16 formed on the cases have an inwardly or outwardly protrudingsimple plate shape. However, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, an uppertongue piece 20 may have an engagement concave part 21 on its lowersurface, and a lower tongue piece 22 may have an engagement convex part23 that fits into the engagement concave part of the upper tongue pieceon its upper surface. The tongue pieces 20 and 22 having the engagementparts 21 and 23, respectively, seek centering when coming in contactwith each other and can further prevent the stacked cases from deviatingfrom each other.

Further, the embodiments describe the upper tongue pieces 5 or 14 formedto inwardly protrude and the lower tongue pieces 7 or 16 formed tooutwardly protrude. However, the upper tongue pieces and the lowertongue pieces may be formed to protrude in opposite directions. That is,the upper tongue pieces may be formed to outwardly protrude, and thelower tongue pieces may be formed to inwardly protrude.

Note that as the deformation of lower tongue pieces, the tongue pieces52 formed on the lid body 50 can also be deformed. Further, the convexpart 51 formed on the lid body 50 may be replaced by a linear convexpart as shown in FIG. 10 or may be replaced by convex parts existing ina dotted state where necessary.

Moreover, the article accommodation case according to the presentinvention accommodates any type of articles not only as a case thataccommodates components in a factory or the like but also as a case thataccommodates beer bottles, a case that accommodates vegetables, or thelike. Further, the material of the article accommodation case accordingto the present invention is not limited to a particular material, butthe article accommodation case can be made of various materials such asplastic, wood, and metal. Furthermore, the article accommodation caseaccording to the present, invention is not necessarily integrally formedin its entirety but may be constituted by the combination of manycomponents or may be replaced by a built-up article accommodation case.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As described above, the article accommodation case according to thepresent invention is an article accommodation case that can be formed atlow cost, is excellent in connecting workability, and secures highstability in a stacked state. Therefore, the article accommodation casecan be widely used as a case that accommodates components in a factoryor the like, a case that accommodates beer bottles, a case thataccommodates vegetables, or the like.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

1, 1A, 1B, 1C, 10 Article accommodation case

2, 18 Opening

3, 17 Convex part serving as leg part

4, 13 Side wall on long side

5, 14, 20 Upper tongue piece

6, 15 Concave part

7, 16, 22 Lower tongue piece

8 Side wall on short side

9 Grip

11 Flange

12 Lib

17 a L-shaped convex part

17 b I-shaped convex part

19 Concave

21 Engagement concave part

23 Engagement convex part

50 Lid body

51 Convex part

52 Tongue piece

1. An article accommodation case having an opening at an upper partthereof and having a substantially cubic shape or a substantiallyrectangular shape, wherein a convex part serving as a leg part is formedon a bottom-wall lower surface thereof, the convex part being configuredto fit into the upper opening of a case below the case when the casesare stacked; inwardly or outwardly protruding upper tongue pieces areformed in a vicinity of upper-end centers of mutually facing side wallsthereof; and lower tongue pieces protruding in directions opposite todirections, in which the upper tongue pieces protrude, are formed on thebottom-wall lower surface, the lower tongue pieces engaging the uppertongue pieces of the lower case when the cases are stacked to connectthe cases to each other.
 2. The article accommodation case according toclaim 1, wherein concave parts are formed around the upper tonguepieces.
 3. The article accommodation case according to claim 1, whereinthe upper tongue pieces are formed to protrude from upper-end surfacesof the side walls.
 4. The article accommodation case according to claim1, wherein the upper tongue pieces have on lower surfaces thereofengagement concave parts respectively, and the lower tongue pieces haveon upper surfaces thereof engagement convex parts respectively, theengagement convex parts fitting into the engagement concave parts of theupper tongue pieces.
 5. The article accommodation case according toclaim 1, wherein the upper tongue pieces are formed on the mutuallyfacing side walls on a long side respectively, and the lower tonguepieces are formed on the convex part serving as the leg part on thebottom-wall lower surface.
 6. The article accommodation case accordingto claim 1, wherein a rectangular lid body that closes the upper openingof the case is provided, the lid body has on a lower surface thereof aconvex part, the convex part is configured to fit into the upper openingof the case, and the convex part has tongue pieces that engage the uppertongue pieces formed on the case.